cargo van floor question

[reflectingnomad]

The van that found me has a metal plate (3/8 or 1/4"x 11' - didn't measure) running the length of the cargo area. Seeking advice on whether to leave it in place or remove. Positive and negative opinions concerning the issue are all appreciated.

 

[Wabbit]

Hi reflectingnomad and welcome to the forum!

Hmmm, for me I have a thin high top and am bolting\securing stuff to the floor. Is the metal wide enough to be useful as a floor mount for cupboards and such? Can you imagine a structuralish wood\metal beam attached to it to support a wall or cupboards up above? Otherwise, less weight is usually the goal(so you can carry more toys\gadgets\gear!).

 

[highdesertranger]

well I hope it's not 3/8's iron/steel, that would weigh a ton. is it iron/steel or aluminum? got a pic? oh yeah go to the Newcomers forum and introduce yourself. welcome, we will give you an official welcome there. highdesertranger

 

[reflectingnomad]

Thanks for the welcome and the reply Wabbit. You hit the nail on the head with my concern regarding lugging the extra weight (plan to keep it to a minimum). Just figuring in my head (scary...haha) the size of the sheet surely weighs as much as three or four 100w Renogy panels (including the hardware); thus offsetting their weight in the build. Yet, the thought of the superior under floor support has the old noggin' wavering on the removal. Forsure the metal sheet is wide enough (wheel to wheel across) to use as a solid mounting surface for cupboards/bed and the like. Points to ponder. Thanks again for the welcome and sharing your view on the subject.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Have you looked at the condition of the floor under it?

 -- Spiff

 

[ArtW]

+1 need to get a look under, even if that means crawling under the van and looking from there

 

[highdesertranger]

if it's aluminum it doesn't weigh all that much, unless????? highdesertranger

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Depends on how much crap is covering the undercarriage.  I would lift it and peek under.  It would also tell you how heavy it is.

 -- Spiff

 

[reflectingnomad]

Excellent point about the condition between the ribbed floor and added plate. Thumbs up to you Spiff. Haven't had the opportunity to view the underside of the plate as it is attached by a series of short (1"+/-) welds at various points around the perimeter. I think the only way to see the bottom of the added plate from the undercarriage would be if I was equipped with x-ray vision. Do they still sell those x-ray vision glasses in the back of magazines? As for the undercarriage itself...very clean for being in part of the rustbelt (has spent it's life in Ohio/Indiana). Of the cargo vans viewed; it was second only to one brought from California, and that one was immaculate underneath. Very impressive!
Forsure iron/steel material. According to the calipers it is 3/8" plate, 54 1/2" in width and still only a rough measurement of 11' lengthwise (it's close, if not a bit in excess of the 11"). Will do a bit grinding and crowbaring to get a look at what lies beneath. As far as the extra weight is concerned is the conglomerate consensus among you folks: shed the plate?

 

[Txjaybird]

 Hello and Welcome

I'm thinking that by looking under the van you will be able to see if there is a structural reason for the metal plate inside.  Things like noticeable rusted places or even rusted completly thru,  maybe multiple holes in the floor from where items had been bolted down previously? You may end up needing that plate or replacing it with a lighter one.  can you ask the previous owner about it?

Jewellann

 

[highdesertranger]

that plate weighs 765lbs. where are you at? if your close enough I will take it off your hands. highdesertranger

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

Sounds like someone put it in there to make things easy to slide. My dad used to do that for sliding huge rolls of rug in and out. It one protected the van floor from repeated abuse and two made moving those things a heck of a lot easier. Forklift to load them then a chain around the carpet and a tree and drive away to unload it at jobsite where we'd unroll and cut into smaller pieces and bring into the respective rooms.

 

[reflectingnomad]

Updating as to not leaving a hanging thread.
-HDR you would have been more than welcome to that huge slab of metal, but Indiana is a long way.
Once the plate was removed the reason behind it was evident. The three center sections had dips between the floor supports. Looks like the Gemini adVantage did some heavy hauling in its previous life. I was unable to see the dips from the underside due to obstacles (fuel tank, exhaust heat sheilds...) obscuring the view.
Ended up acquiring a thinner sheet of steel (junkyard), and shed about 1/2 the weight of the original plate that was previously installed. Still a bummer lugging the extra weight, but content with that aspect of the build completed. Thanks for all the responses to my post.